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The Role of Women During WW1. Friday, October 17 th , 2014. Women Before WW1. Women could not vote Women could not hold a public office in the government Employment opportunities for women were limited - nurse, teacher, secretary, “stay at home wife”
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The Role of Women During WW1 Friday, October 17th, 2014
Women Before WW1 • Women could not vote • Women could not hold a public office in the government • Employment opportunities for women were limited • - nurse, teacher, secretary, “stay at home wife” • Women were prohibited from joining the military forces
Women During WW1 In Europe • Women were prohibited from fighting, but they were able to: • NURSE • AMBULANCE DRIVER • 3,000 Canadian women served as nurses overseas: The“Bluebirds” • 46 died deliberate hospital bombing, shelling, disease, hostpital ship torpedoed • These nurses saw A LOT of gruesome death and wounded men that were young
Women During WW1 At Home • With men going off to war, women took their places in the workforce • They were able to work in factories, producing A LOT of: -Food -war materials -general supplies • They assumed the role of “man of the house”: -managing family farm -taking care of family -making important decisions • Women gained a sense of EMPOWERMENT & INDEPENDANCE
“If women in war factories stopped for 20 minutes, we should lose the war” -French General Joseph Joffre
Women and Politics • Women were not able to vote up until 1917 • Military Voters Act: allowed female members of the army (nurses) to vote in federal elections • Wartime Elections Act: vote extended to mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives of Canadian men serving in Europe Impact influence the vote to KEEP conscription Conscription women related to men at war: more reinforcements!